Two Midgets earn trip to state meet

Christensen and Peters make Top 10

October 25, 2013

ORANGE CITY -Lee Christensen and Nic Peters will represent Estherville Lincoln Central at the 2013 Class 2A Boys State Cross Country Meet next week.

Christensen finished nine in 17 minutes, 7 seconds with Peters just making the state-qualifying cut in 10th in 17:09.5 at the qualifying meet in Orange City on Thursday. The top 10 individuals at the meet earn a trip to state.

"We thought Lee could make it to state and we knew Nic had it in him," said ELC coach Tina Burton. "Nic ran a very good race-it was all guts."

Article Photos

ELC’s Lee Christensen, left, battles a Unity Christian runner at the Class 2A State Qualifying Meet in Orange City on Thursday.Photo submitted

The two sophomores are the leaders of a young team, which featured nearly all underclassmen.

Christensen and Peters will run at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 2 at the 2A state cross-country meet at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge.

The top three teams qualified for the state meet. Ninth-ranked Unity Christian finished first with 58 points while South Central Calhoun placed second with 96 points and 14th-ranked Odebolt-Arthur/Battle Creek-Ida Grove placed third with 102 points.

Estherville Lincoln Central put forth a good effort and that produced a ninth-place finish at the 2A state-qualifying meet in Orange City on Thursday.

ELC finished with 217 points overall. The top three teams-Unity Christian (48 points), Western Christian (60 points) and South Central Calhoun (65) points-advanced to the state meet. Spirit Lake finished fourth with 121 points.

ELC's three seniors led the squad.

According to coach Burton, Rachel Bates took nearly a minute off her best time and finished 23rd in 16:43.4. Heather Natterstad placed 41st in 17:35.8 and Brianna Enerson placed 42nd in 17:38.5. Also Taylor Karels placed 55th in 18:08.7 and Hallie Jensen placed 56th in 18:14.1 to complete the team scoring. Burton said Karels ran the best race of her career.

"Both the boys and girls did everything we asked," said Burton. "Their starts were strong and they battled. I'm very pleased with how we ran."